KDP, PUK cadres caught in crossfire

2019-01-05 21:23:09

Peregraf- Ferman Hamadamen in Erbil

Two vehicles full of armed men land at Peshraw Waysi's place and knock at his door. Without any court warrant, they drag him inside a car.

Waysi is the executive at the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) HQ in Erbil. The armed force was affiliated with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). The only reason for his arrest: the political rivalry which exists between the two.

His brother, Ari Waysi, was his guest that night, "Peshraw returned home at 10:50 local time in Brayati neighbourhood [Erbil]. Two people, with civilian attire, knocked at the door and introduced themselves as Asayish (Kurdish security). My father was there and asked for the court warrant."

They had no warrant, he says, which led to an argument between them, "Then the force outside the home dragged Peshraw and took him."

Around 10-15 armed men, with two vehicles, "The incident is filmed through the CCTV of my brother's house."

No one has filed a complaint against Waysi, and no party has accused him of anything.

What made the arrest controversial was a statement by the chief of Erbil Asayish, "His arrest is related to the arrest of a KDP cadre in Garmiyan by PUK," the statement said, "Unless KDP's cadre is released, he will stay with them."

Asayish said their action was a reaction to PUK's move; otherwise they do not consider it as proper.

KDP's cadre, referred in the statement, is named Sarkhel Akbar Hajji Rostam. Police said he was arrested due to a complaint by his uncle, and later transferred to Sulaimaniyah Asayish (PUK).

His uncle, the police said, filed a complaint against his acts which included shooting and causing power outages in their garden.

The controversy is too familiar for people, since the two parties have a long history of such rivalries, even going as far as ousting and relocating people because of their political affiliation.

A security and political expert, Wasiq Hashimi, said the incident is the sign of chaos, a region without a real government or state, "Political parties and figures control everything, and impose their will on people."

He said the situation extends to all of Iraq, not only the Kurdistan region, "No regulation of law, no protection for people."

PUK and KDP severed their ties since 16 October 2017, when the federal government waged a raid on the disputed areas. Both accused each other of being the reason.

When Barham Salih (PUK) became the president of Iraq against KDP's reservations, the rivalry reached its apex. Hashimi said, "The rivalry will only intensify in the future."

KDP's nominate was competing against Salih in the Iraqi parliament, but the latter emerged as a victor by a wide margin.

People resorted to satire to express their views on the matter through the social networks, mostly claiming that the two parties could return to square one at any moment: dual-administration.

The term dual-administration describes 1991-2003, where the two parties each occupied an area in the Kurdistan region and did not allow the other to enter. The US invasion of Iraq in 2003 forced them to approach each other, although no real alliance is present in the region as each force retains its military and security force.

A legal expert in Erbil, who asked not to be named, said the arrest of the PUK's cadre has nothing to do with the law, "If no crime happened, there is no punishment in the Iraqi Penal Code."

He referred to the Asayish's statement where no accusation is directed towards PUK's cadre.

He said the incident strips the judiciary of any authority.

During each election campaign, Kurdish officials promise the regulation of law and independence of the judiciary, while such incidents often reveal otherwise.

PUK's Erbil HQ said three other cadres of PUK have been arrested, calling the security to announce their whereabouts.

The incidents came amidst the talks to form a new cabinet in the region. Three months passed after the parliamentary election, and no cabinet has been formed.

A New Generation parliamentarian, Kawa Abdulqadir, told Peregraf, "What happened proves that the security forces are divided between two political parties," he added, "There is no such thing as a unified Kurdistan [Region]. There is dual-administration, and the institutions are divided."

The parliamentarians are yet to hold the first session, as the political parties failed to agree on the new Speakership.

Abdulqadir said the first duty of the new parliament should be to remove the remnants of the dual-administration.

He believes an active parliament could exert pressure on the political parties, "Otherwise the dual administration is already in place."

He called for all the other parties, excluding PUK and KDP, to be unified to get rid of the de facto dual-administration.

KDP, PUK cadres caught in crossfire

2019-01-05 21:23:09

Peregraf- Ferman Hamadamen in Erbil

Two vehicles full of armed men land at Peshraw Waysi's place and knock at his door. Without any court warrant, they drag him inside a car.

Waysi is the executive at the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) HQ in Erbil. The armed force was affiliated with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). The only reason for his arrest: the political rivalry which exists between the two.

His brother, Ari Waysi, was his guest that night, "Peshraw returned home at 10:50 local time in Brayati neighbourhood [Erbil]. Two people, with civilian attire, knocked at the door and introduced themselves as Asayish (Kurdish security). My father was there and asked for the court warrant."

They had no warrant, he says, which led to an argument between them, "Then the force outside the home dragged Peshraw and took him."

Around 10-15 armed men, with two vehicles, "The incident is filmed through the CCTV of my brother's house."

No one has filed a complaint against Waysi, and no party has accused him of anything.

What made the arrest controversial was a statement by the chief of Erbil Asayish, "His arrest is related to the arrest of a KDP cadre in Garmiyan by PUK," the statement said, "Unless KDP's cadre is released, he will stay with them."

Asayish said their action was a reaction to PUK's move; otherwise they do not consider it as proper.

KDP's cadre, referred in the statement, is named Sarkhel Akbar Hajji Rostam. Police said he was arrested due to a complaint by his uncle, and later transferred to Sulaimaniyah Asayish (PUK).

His uncle, the police said, filed a complaint against his acts which included shooting and causing power outages in their garden.

The controversy is too familiar for people, since the two parties have a long history of such rivalries, even going as far as ousting and relocating people because of their political affiliation.

A security and political expert, Wasiq Hashimi, said the incident is the sign of chaos, a region without a real government or state, "Political parties and figures control everything, and impose their will on people."

He said the situation extends to all of Iraq, not only the Kurdistan region, "No regulation of law, no protection for people."

PUK and KDP severed their ties since 16 October 2017, when the federal government waged a raid on the disputed areas. Both accused each other of being the reason.

When Barham Salih (PUK) became the president of Iraq against KDP's reservations, the rivalry reached its apex. Hashimi said, "The rivalry will only intensify in the future."

KDP's nominate was competing against Salih in the Iraqi parliament, but the latter emerged as a victor by a wide margin.

People resorted to satire to express their views on the matter through the social networks, mostly claiming that the two parties could return to square one at any moment: dual-administration.

The term dual-administration describes 1991-2003, where the two parties each occupied an area in the Kurdistan region and did not allow the other to enter. The US invasion of Iraq in 2003 forced them to approach each other, although no real alliance is present in the region as each force retains its military and security force.

A legal expert in Erbil, who asked not to be named, said the arrest of the PUK's cadre has nothing to do with the law, "If no crime happened, there is no punishment in the Iraqi Penal Code."

He referred to the Asayish's statement where no accusation is directed towards PUK's cadre.

He said the incident strips the judiciary of any authority.

During each election campaign, Kurdish officials promise the regulation of law and independence of the judiciary, while such incidents often reveal otherwise.

PUK's Erbil HQ said three other cadres of PUK have been arrested, calling the security to announce their whereabouts.

The incidents came amidst the talks to form a new cabinet in the region. Three months passed after the parliamentary election, and no cabinet has been formed.

A New Generation parliamentarian, Kawa Abdulqadir, told Peregraf, "What happened proves that the security forces are divided between two political parties," he added, "There is no such thing as a unified Kurdistan [Region]. There is dual-administration, and the institutions are divided."

The parliamentarians are yet to hold the first session, as the political parties failed to agree on the new Speakership.

Abdulqadir said the first duty of the new parliament should be to remove the remnants of the dual-administration.

He believes an active parliament could exert pressure on the political parties, "Otherwise the dual administration is already in place."

He called for all the other parties, excluding PUK and KDP, to be unified to get rid of the de facto dual-administration.